Maryland House, London (UK)

A bold example of infill housing architecture, Maryland House redefines urban living through spatial innovation and design precision. A dwelling that challenges traditional spatial hierarchy in the home to focus on the reality of modern city living.

MARYLAND HOUSE | A striking deep red staircase at Maryland House, framed by glass block walls that flood the space with natural light, exemplifying the inventive use of vertical circulation and daylight in infill housing architecture.

Introduction

Infill sites are the cracks in the fabric of our cities neglected, but awash with potential. Their limits are not seen as a restriction, to the Studio but rather a unique quality to be rethought and responded to with innovative design and the artistry of construction. The development of these sites and thoughtfully curated infill housing architecture can offer some relief to London’s housing needs, especially to the new creative generation entering the housing market. Maryland House is the Studio’s demonstration of creating a feasible prototype of infill development.

CUSTOM ISLAND DESIGN | Designed in-house by Remi C.T. Studio, a quiet highlight in the heart of the kitchen.

Approach

The site has had difficulty obtaining planning since 2002, but in 2016, the Studio took on the challenge as a development scheme. What once was a vacant brownfield site, Maryland House now acts as a bold bookend to a row of terraced houses. The exterior is finished with reclaimed London stock brick which adds a familiar feel to the structure’s modern form that compliments streetscape in a positive way.

SITE CONTEXT | Aerial view showing Maryland House location nestled within vibrant East London.

SITE HIGHLIGHT | Aerial view with site location marked.

Detail

Sitting on an 8.5m x 9m plot, we were faced with the most undeniable constraint of an infill site: space. For what could not be solved by looking up, we turned our eyes downward. The basement in Maryland House features 3.1m ceilings, kitchen, living space, utility room/ bathroom, and courtyard. The basement is saturated in natural light by way of the courtyard and the staircase enclosed by glass blocks.

The ground floor holds a double and single bedroom, each with its own en-suite, as well as a front garden. The three floors are connected by a deep red staircase that was engineered to create a striking feature bonding the floors together. The first floor belongs to the workspace/ studio, an integral part of addressing the lifestyle needs of the creative generation. A workspace should be an inviting and inspiring place to escape to. This light-filled room grants the inhabitant a separation from work and living space and supplies its own spacious terrace thus increasing well-being.

RETROFIT MATERIALITY | Using salvaged London stock bricks from neighbouring sites.

BOLD BATHROOM DESIGN | Featuring vibrant green terrazzo tiles paired with matte black fixtures, showcasing the refined detailing and material richness.

Implementation

The key element of construction was the logistics strategy to allow for efficiency within the constraints of the micro site. Two key elements were how the basement was excavated and the superstructure, prefabrication sip panels and foam blocks, was erected. Following this approach allowed us to champion sustainability of speed, materiality and methodology.